The Official Battery Life Thread

[KillerG]

Yeah I'm about ready to root just to get rid of Social Location, but C Streater is saying it may be integrated into our contact app, so I'm holding off for now.

I'm also ready for a 4G/3G widget toggle switch. I'm thinking that the 4G radio, even if not using data, is actually drawing power while wifi is on. The reasons are two-fold:

1) Even if it's not blue because it's not using data, it may still be drawing power in the same way that if I have my laptop connected to wifi but also connected to an ethernet cable, the data transfers over wifi but the ethernet cable is still lit up to show it's being powered on.

2) When I'm connected via Wi-fi, there are still moments where the 4G signal goes away and the 3G signal shows up. That leads me to believe the 4G radio is still polling for a connection to the tower, along with the 3G radio. I was hoping they would be disabled when wifi was connected, even though I'm not sure if it's possible or not.

Brandon

I would think they would have a switch widget stock with the device...but it seems they don't. I wonder if anyone has found a good widget on the market?

 

[rkein87]

I would assume there will be a 4G toggle widget shortly.

Currently at 9 Hrs 51 Mins running 4G the entire day:

Cell Standby: 44%
Phone Idle: 36%
Display: 11% (1 Hr 53 Min)
Android OS: 5%
Android System: 2%

Don't know what you call that (I'd say "light" usage since it was responding to texts, some apps, etc), but not as long as I like but also not nearly as bad as others. I've had Wifi off all day, GPS on all day too.

How do you not have the Social Location app running?

 

[Scout_313]

I actually ended up returning my Bionic today due to the horrible battery life. Yesterday at work I had my battery go from 100% down to 40% in a matter of 5 hours. In that period of time I used the phone for MAYBE 20 minutes to check Facebook and show a coworker some pics of my niece. My e-mail was set to sync every 30 minutes and I was in an area with a strong LTE signal. I thought about using the phone in 3G only but if I'm going to pay $300 for a phone, I'd like to be able to use its features and not have to rely on an extended battery that makes the phone thicker. I guess I'll just hold off on LTE until the next generation chips come out that aren't as power hungry. I do feel that in terms of hardware and software that the Bionic is a GREAT phone, but I don't want to have to be near a charger all day.

 

[bplewis24]

bplewis, you can download a toggle switch from the android market.....its a quick link shortcut to the menu where you can switch between LTE and CDMA.

Yeah I actually downloaded that about an hour ago and have been doing some testing with it. It's called "LTE Switch" and it just acts as a shortcut to bring up the CDMA/LTE Network settings menu.

Since using it I've noticed a couple things:

The 4G LTE icon IS blue while Wifi is connected (and blue). If I were rooted I would take a screencap to prove it, but you guys will have to just trust me on that.

Also, When toggling the network mode to "CDMA Only" I noticed that the 4G icon hands off to 3G...and then it disappears the same way it did when I connected to wifi on my Droid! Then when toggling it back to "CDMA/LTE", after the 3G hands off back to 4G, the 4G icon shows back up.

I toggled it several times and every time the 3G icon went away when CDMA Only and the 4G icon came back after toggling to CDMA/LTE.

Last observation/anecdote: after swapping in the new 100% capacity spare battery, I was down to 80% in 39 minutes. Basically just having the screen on and changing settings. No emails or web browsing. After another hour of all of this CDMA/LTE testing, it's only went down to 70%...so that's not too bad. But for some reason I'm getting a very rapid drain immediately after taking the phone off the charger whether I use it or not.

Brandon

 

[bplewis24]

How do you not have the Social Location app running?

This has intrigued me as well. This morning when my battery drained to 70% after 2 hours of doing absolutely nothing, Social Location ate up like 30% of the battery.

I swapped out batteries this afternoon (may battery was down to 5% after about 7 hours. I sent a few texts and 4 emails, but no web browsing or downloading or video watching. Anyway, I'm using the 2nd battery now, and Social Location is nowhere to be found in the battery usage this time. I'm on 70% currently.

Brandon

 

[dirkpittt]

for moderate useage on LTE the battery is fine for me, but when I do some downloading or using video, I can see the battery going fast. Other than that the phone is great. I am actualy going to the VZW kiosk on Thursday to buy the extended battery, its on sale for half off, so only $25 foir the battery and cover.

 

[dirtbiker0025]

This has intrigued me as well. This morning when my battery drained to 70% after 2 hours of doing absolutely nothing, Social Location ate up like 30% of the battery.

I swapped out batteries this afternoon (may battery was down to 5% after about 7 hours. I sent a few texts and 4 emails, but no web browsing or downloading or video watching. Anyway, I'm using the 2nd battery now, and Social Location is nowhere to be found in the battery usage this time. I'm on 70% currently.

Brandon

to turn it off, go into the social location app (which is a blur version of where or poynt) and hit the menu button then hit power off, and itll shut down the app. you cant use the back arrow because thatll just put it in the back ground

 

[Travisimo]

So 19 hours with phone not being used for 17 hours doesn't impress me, nor should it anyone else. Pay attention to hours the display was actually on and forget about any other hours posted.

Actually, that WOULD impress me because me phone drops about 10% per hour even if I NEVER turn on the screen! I would be more than happy to get 12+ hours of battery life even if I never turn on the screen during that time. The cell standby is killing my battery life and I'm only on 3G right now.

 

[ChevyNovaLN]

Well, just installed my Extended Battery. 24% out of the box so its charging I wonder how long it'd take to charge to 100% off the USB port on my laptop... 3-4 hours or longer i'd guess.

 

[alphanu22]

charging via ur USB port on laptop/comp will take forever- doesnt give out the same power as a outlet-

 

[ChevyNovaLN]

charging via ur USB port on laptop/comp will take forever- doesnt give out the same power as a outlet-

I kinda figured, just wasn't sure on the difference I'm going to be awake for the next 4 hours, so i'll see how far it gets till then

 

[alphanu22]

I kinda figured, just wasn't sure on the difference I'm going to be awake for the next 4 hours, so i'll see how far it gets till then

UNLESS ur USB port hais a lil lightning symbol on it meaning its a Powered USB like on my NetBook:

 

[SonicJoe]

Never even tried the standard battery; I've been on extended since day 1. I've been on vaca, so my use has been heavier than normal, but still need to charge once in the middle of the day, plus every night. I have the car dock, so everytime I drive its on power, but, unlike my OG Droid, the Bionic doesn't seem capable of running navigation plus gaining some charge, so that hurts.

I get fringe reception at home, and, from what I've heard, that will cause extra battery drain. So that might be part of my trouble. Still, its right about where I expected it to be.

 

[ChevyNovaLN]

UNLESS ur USB port hais a lil lightning symbol on it meaning its a Powered USB like on my NetBook:

Yeah, I know the difference between the 'main' USB ports vs the 3rd one on the opposite side on my laptop. They're just like an on-board USB port on a desktop PC. Its at 31% already up from 24%

 

[alphanu22]

Yeah, I know the difference between the 'main' USB ports vs the 3rd one on the opposite side on my laptop. They're just like an on-board USB port on a desktop PC. Its at 31% already up from 24%

just making sure :-X

 

[CobbFC09]

In regards to charging the Bionic, does it really matter? I assume it is bad to let the battery drain all the way and then charge it all the way back up or what?

Sorry, I have been with a Blackberry Curve for 5 years now and this is my first "real" phone.

 

[KillerG]

In regards to charging the Bionic, does it really matter? I assume it is bad to let the battery drain all the way and then charge it all the way back up or what?

Sorry, I have been with a Blackberry Curve for 5 years now and this is my first "real" phone.

You poor soul :'(.
Yeah, it's best to charge the phone more regularly, and it's extremely bad for the phone to die all the way, that's how new batteries work.

UNLESS ur USB port hais a lil lightning symbol on it meaning its a Powered USB like on my NetBook:

And that's a BIG netbook lol. But it IS an alienware, alienware computers are quite large. But that have a lot of power under that hood as well.

 

[bplewis24]

unlike my OG Droid, the Bionic doesn't seem capable of running navigation plus gaining some charge, so that hurts.

Same here. I was hoping this wouldn't be the case, but it only maintains it's current battery level, unfortunately.

Brandon

 

[alphanu22]

And that's a BIG netbook lol. But it IS an alienware, alienware computers are quite large. But that have a lot of power under that hood as well.

its just a 11" no biggie and yes its quite fast, but ever since i got the XOOM. well its been a while since shes been used...

 

[kath00]

Juice Defender ROCKED today. I installed it last night just to try it and now it's 10pm and I am at 60% battery with Wifi, Bluetooth and 4G going all day. Moderate use since I was also at work today but the battery life extension is awesome.

Katherine